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Histories of Theatres and Theatre Companies

The volumes listed below contain histories of theatres and theatre companies with geographical and/or chronological limits contained in their titles.

ref PN2221.A550 1986
Durham, Weldon B., ed. American Theatre Companies. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1986-1989. Vol. 1, 1749-1887; Vol. 2, 1888-1930; Vol. 3, 1931-1986.

These three volumes are comprised of signed entries for theatre companies or groups, each with three parts: a narrative history of the company/group, a listing of personnel, and a bibliography of additional sources. A similar set is available in the stacks (PN2052.T48) entitled Theatre Companies of the World.

ref PN 2256.B6
Bordman, Gerald. American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama. 4 vols. New York: Oxford UP, 1994-2001. Vol. 1, 1869-1914; Vol, 2, 1914-1930; Vol. 3, 1930-1969; Vol. 4, 1969-2000.

Each of these four volumes covers theatre history as it occurred in New York's first-class theatres. Written in narrative style but covering development in the theatre chronologically, theses volumes list trends, plays, and critical comments altogether. While such an arrangement makes for interesting reading, it is essential to use the two indexes for plays and people in order to use the volumes as reference tools. A wealth of information is included in these volumes.

ref PN3159.U6M3 1987
McCaslin, Nellie. Historical Guide to Children's Theatre in America. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1987.

Part I provides an excellent historical overview of children's theatre in the United States. Part II presents profiles of children's theatres and children's theatre associations and organizations. Entries do not include a listing of sources; however, among the appendices is a listing of sources, along with a geographical listing of theatres.

ref PN2270.A35P48 1997
Peterson, Jr. Bernard L. The African American Theatre Directory, 1816-1960: A Comprehensive Guide to Early Black Theatre Organizations, Companies, Theatres, and Performing Groups. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1997.

Although most entries are brief and most do not cite sources, over 500 African American theatrical organizations, companies, and performing groups, along with over 200 black-oriented or black-controlled theatres, halls and performance spaces are covered in this volume. Included is a list of reference books and critical studies used to write the volume and other relevant materials useful for studying black theatre. Also included are indexes of names, plays/show titles, organizations, and theatres.

These volumes list theaters chronologically, based on their date of opening. Entries range from brief to lengthy and consist primarily of documented quotes from other historical sources. Alphabetical and geographical lists of the theaters are included in the indexes.

This monumental set covers the history of the New York stage from the beginning (around 1699) through the 1893-94 theatre season. Using primary sources (contemporary newspapers, pamphlets, diaries, letters, autobiographies, playbills, account-books, etc.), Odell amassed a wealth of information. In addition to historical narrative, Odell listed for each theatre, season by season, the plays performed with names of characters and who played the role, as well as comments about the play and the performance. Each of the 15 volumes has an index but, unfortunately, there is no cumulative index except to the portraits that appear throughout the volumes. (See also T. Allston Brown's A History of the New York Stage, from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901 located in PN2277.N5B7 - available online as a part of NATO)

This landmark set provides detailed information about productions on the London stages from 1660-1880. The subtitle says it all with regard to the primary sources used to compile the information chronologically, season by season. Users should be aware that for many productions information is incomplete because it is unknown. Overviews of a season are also included. A few facsimiles of portraits and playbills are included. A separate index was published in 1979 containing the titles and names appearing in the 11 volumes and each volume has its own indexes.